Tag Archives: facts

I found this medical facts chart at http://medicalbillingandcodingcertification.net a bit earlier, it makes for interesting (but slightly scary) reading. Over-medicated America seems to be firmly in the clutches of the drug pharma companies. Obviously not all prescription drugs are bad for you, there has been some amazing medical breakthroughs over the years, but at what point does helping the patient get better turn into profiteering and prescribing unneeded medicine just to keep the drug company’s shareholders happy?

Anyway have a close read of the following chart and see if you agree with me that this is a very sad story. What’s even more un-nerving is that what happens in the US usually comes over the pond to the UK not long after, so will we be seeing over-prescribing of pointless drugs here? I actually think it’s already happening to a certain degree. I know a few GPs, they are my friends, and they all get visits on a regular basis by very glamourous reps from the large drug companies with the sole view of aggressively promoting and pushing their drugs, with cash incentives for the GP of course. Some have caved in to this cash carrot, while others stick dogedy by the hypocratic oath they took and only prescribe medicine when it is genuinely needed by the patient.

All this just to line the pockets of greedy pharma execs and their equally greedy shareholders. It makes me sick when you think about the implications this has on the people who rely on their GP to give open, honest and impartial medical advice.

Like this:

So as this is my first post it seems fitting to list a few interesting facts about Marijuana (or cannabis, pot, reefer, ganja etc), which you may, or may not, know about.

Marijuana has been around since prehistory. It rose significantly in popularity during the 60s and 70s with the advent of the hippy movement and has been chilling people out ever since!

Today, Marijuana is America’s #1 cash crop, estimated to be a mind-blowing $38bn-a-year industry. To put that into perspective: the value of the corn crop in the US is $23.3 billion, and wheat is just $7.5 billion.

The active ingredients in the plant which makes you high are called THC and CBD. It is a psychoactive drug which is made up of dried buds and leaves from the female plants.

The effects of smoking Marijuana are almost immediate. The smoker can experience a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes and a dry mouth and throat, commonly leading to a common problem in pot smokers called ‘the munchies‘.

The first recorded use of Marijuana originates from China in 2727BC, where they used it for medicinal purposes. Check out this fun video out for a very potted history of pot.

The US Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

George Washington and Tomas Jefferson both grew Marijuana on their plantations.

So there you go, crazy stats about a crazy plant. My philosophy is: if it grows out of the ground then how dangerous can it be? Free the weed and your mind will follow!